Information central for parenting with breast cancer.
Examples of How You Might Respond to Early Questions
For younger kids, you can say something like:
“I went to the doctor, and he wants to do some tests to make sure I’m healthy. When my doctor tells me what’s happening, I will tell you. I’ll let you know if it’s something you should worry about.”
Or
“You must have noticed that I’ve been thinking a lot. My doctor is doing some tests to make sure I’m healthy, and that’s what I’ve been thinking about.”
For older kids, you can give more details:
Child: You seem worried. Is everything okay?
Mom: Well, I had a breast exam at the doctor’s office. He found a lump on my breast and wants to do some tests to see what it is.
Child: Could it be cancer?
Mom: It could be cancer, but it could be a lot of things. It could be an infection or a cyst. It could also be normal for my breasts. Everyone’s breasts are different.
Child: It still doesn’t sound good. Should I be worried?
Mom: You don’t need to worry. The doctor says that 80% of these tests turn out to be nothing. When I find out what it is, I’ll let you know.